Category Archives: Accounting tips

Accounting advice from EJK Accounting & Tax

12.18 2020

Accounting Tips: Educate Your Employees

Why is it important to have strong internal control within an organization?

        A control environment is made up of a compilation of an entity’s organizational structures, policies, standards, and processes that maintain control across the organization. Having effective control environments with adequate internal control is essential for businesses to reduce the risk of asset loss and ensure reasonable assurance for stakeholders and businesses. Moreover, implementing a strong internal control, businesses establish solid protocols and procedures for their employees and partners. It allows businesses to prevent fraud and theft by separation of duties and organization of financial and management information.

Here are some best practices that should mitigate issues from happening in your business.

  • Segregation of Duties
  • Physical Controls
  • IT Controls
  • Accounting Standards and Policies 
  • Ethical Learnings

We strongly recommend to educate and train your employees for prevention of fraud as well as errors and mistakes.

05.10 2016

IRS Workshops for Non-profits

In an effort to provide better access to popular workshops, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has posted virtual versions of workshops on their website. The most recent installment focuses on tax compliance for exempt organizations including small to medium-sized 501(c)3 organizations.

Lessons include topics such as how to apply for 501(c)3 status, 990 overview course, and hiring employees. They are designed to help both new and pre-existing organizations. The IRS also offers certificates of attendance to encourage comprehensive education around a variety of topics.

01.25 2016

2016 Tax Season

January starts a new year and a new tax season. In the next month, you’ll receive an array of IRS forms reminding you that it’s time to file. The deadline this year is Monday, April 18, 2016, but once you’ve received all your forms it’s never too early to file. For standard filers, here’s what you might expect to get in the mail:

  • Form W-2 from your current or past employers.
  • Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV from any financial institutions from whom you earn interest.
  • Contractors will receive form 1099-MISC with total miscellaneous income earned.
  • Homeowners will receive form 1098 with total mortgage interest payments.
  • Students will receive form 1098-T with total tuition paid; students with loans will receive form 1098-E with total interest paid on student loans.

If you’re a small business owner, you’ll need to provide your tax preparer with a profit and loss statement so that they can complete a Schedule C.

Give us a call or talk to your preparer for a complete list of forms needed to complete your return.

08.06 2015

Non-profit Audit Tips

Audits are never fun, but being prepared can help relieve a ton of pressure. Start prepping early so you can be ready when the auditor arrives. Talk to your accounting and administrative staff and get them working on the items below. Being prepared can help save you time and money!

Get prepared

  • Ask your auditor for a list of documents to gather. This is the best place to start. Review the list, see what you need to gather, and estimate how much time you need to do so. Wait to pick an audit date until you have an idea of how long it will take you to gather items and work on the additional items below.
  • Review a detail of income and expense transactions. Take a quick look at the prior years’ transactions to catch any miscoded or mis-classed items.
  • Gather donor information. Donors who gave $5,000 or more during the year will be reported on the 990. Make sure you have donor names and addresses to provide to the auditor.
  • Double check what’s sitting in grants receivable. Gather information regarding multi-year loans, and confirm any grants received from the prior closed year properly offset the grants receivable account.
  • Double check all liabilities. Confirm that ending balances for loans, accrued PTO, and other payroll liabilities are correct.
  • Make sure prior year ending balances match prior year return. Double check that account beginning balances match the ending balances for the prior year’s 990.

If you need help preparing for your audit, contact our office today!